Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA sincerely thanks Pope Leo XIV for publicly extending sympathies to Taiwan over losses caused by Typhoon Ragasa

Date：2025-09-29
Data Source：Department of European Affairs

September 29, 2025No. 374During a Jubilee mass on the morning of September 28, Pope Leo XIV offered a special prayer for those affected by Typhoon Ragasa, including the victims, the missing, the displaced, and rescue workers, in Taiwan and other countries.In July, Pope Leo XIV extended public condolences to Taiwan on the devastation caused by Typhoon Danas and instructed the Holy See’s Dicastery for the Service of Charity to provide aid to those impacted. His public expression of sympathies to Taiwan in the aftermath of Typhoon Ragasa reaffirms the profound friendship between Taiwan and the Holy See.On behalf of President Lai Ching-te, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung sincerely thanks Pope Leo XIV for his concern over losses caused by Typhoon Ragasa and for his prayers in the spirit of compassion and benevolence. Moving forward, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to collaborate with the Holy See to promote humanitarian assistance and charity work, thereby jointly advancing the universal values shared by all humankind. (E)

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA response to China’s inappropriate comments concerning Foreign Minister Lin’s visit to Europe and Taiwan’s sovereignty

September 25, 2025The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) solemnly refutes fallacious statements made recently by China that seek to undercut Taiwan’s sovereignty, deliberately distort history, and run contrary to the facts. 
 
China’s Foreign Ministry on September 22 made inappropriate comments regarding Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung’s recent visit to Austria, while the next day China’s State Council issued statements in a meeting with the Austrian government that sought to downgrade Taiwan’s sovereignty.
 
MOFA again stresses the internationally accepted, objective truth that neither the Republic of China (Taiwan) nor the People’s Republic of China is subordinate to the other. The Republic of China (Taiwan) is an independent, sovereign nation. Any language that aims to distort Taiwan’s sovereignty cannot change internationally accepted facts. The People’s Republic of China has no authority to comment on Taiwan’s interactions with other countries.
 
Minister Lin’s trip to Austria and other European nations to promote Taiwan’s diverse culture was widely applauded and helped solidify friendship between the people of Taiwan and of Europe. It exemplified the shared values of democracy and cultural diversity. MOFA will continue to work within the spirit of integrated diplomacy so that Taiwan can continue to deepen exchanges with like-minded nations and strengthen ties based on democratic values.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The value of residential mortgage loans approved in August was $28.7 billion, a 6.3% decrease compared with July, the Monetary Authority announced today.

Mortgage loans financing primary market transactions decreased 0.7% to $10.7 billion, while those financing secondary market transactions decreased 11.9% to $14.6 billion.

Loans for refinancing rose 4.1% to $3.3 billion.

Mortgage loans drawn down during August amounted to $19 billion, a 4.5% rise from July.

The number of mortgage applications in August dropped 6.7% month on month, to 8,405.

The outstanding value of mortgage loans increased 0.1% month on month to $1.8883 trillion at end-August.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) announced that PATEO CONNECT Technology (Shanghai) Corporation (Pateo Technology), a leading Mainland provider of smart cockpit and intelligent vehicle connectivity solutions, was listed on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange today (September 30). This move marks another new step in the group’s global business expansion, following the establishment of its overseas regional headquarters in Hong Kong in February this year.

Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion at InvestHK Ms Loretta Lee said, “We are delighted to witness Pateo Technology’s choice of Hong Kong as a key hub for its global capital and technology strategy. As an international financial and innovation hub, Hong Kong offers a robust capital market, world-class professional services, and a highly open business environment, providing strong support for Mainland enterprises to expand into international markets. We will continue to attract overseas enterprises and assist Mainland enterprises to go global, helping innovation-driven companies leverage Hong Kong as a springboard to expand internationally, and reinforcing the city’s role as a bridge between the Mainland and the world.”

The Founder and Chairman of the Board of Pateo Technology, Mr Ying Zhenkai, said, “Hong Kong possesses an important international capital market role and a robust professional and technology talent pool. Following our listing, we plan to enhance Pateo Technology Hong Kong’s strategic position in three areas: as a capital hub, a technology platform, and with regional synergy, further deepening our global footprint. Leveraging Hong Kong’s mature international financial centre advantage, we will explore the expansion of smart cockpit domain controller production. We are also engaging with top industry talent to further expand Pateo Technology Hong Kong’s professional team.”

Pateo Technology establishes its overseas regional headquarters in Hong Kong to support its parent company in areas such as listing compliance and financing.

For more information about Pateo Technology, please visit www.pateo.com.cn.

For a copy of the photo, please visit: www.flickr.com/photos/investhk/albums/72177720329350254.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (September 30) that four gazetted beaches, temporarily closed earlier due to Super Typhoon Ragasa, will reopen tomorrow (October 1).

     These beaches are:

  ï¼�  Clear Water Bay First Beach in Sai Kung District
  ï¼�  Clear Water Bay Second Beach in Sai Kung District 
  ï¼�  Trio Beach in Sai Kung District 
  ï¼�  Hung Shing Yeh Beach in Islands District (to reopen at 1pm tomorrow)

     Together with the 19 gazetted beaches that have reopened (namely South Bay Beach, Lido Beach, Approach Beach, Butterfly Beach, Golden Beach, Kadoorie Beach, Anglers’ Beach, Casam Beach, Ting Kau Beach, Tai Po Lung Mei Beach, Pui O Beach, Middle Bay Beach, Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach, Silver Mine Bay Beach, Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach, Repulse Bay Beach, Deep Water Bay Beach, Big Wave Bay Beach and Shek O Beach), a total of 23 gazetted beaches will be open from tomorrow onwards.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office of the Department of Health (DH) today (September 30) announced that it will increase its publicity efforts in tourist areas this week to remind both members of the public and visitors to comply with Hong Kong’s tobacco control laws and foster a smoke-free environment as the community celebrates National Day and the Mid-Autumn Festival.

To protect public health, it is the established policy of the Government to discourage smoking, contain the proliferation of tobacco use and minimise the impact of second-hand smoke on the public. In addition to public transport carriers and the indoor areas of restaurants, shopping malls and public places being designated as statutory no smoking areas (NSA), 272 public transport facilities in Hong Kong are also designated as NSAs. Any person who does a smoking act in NSAs will be liable for a fixed penalty of $1,500. Tobacco and Alcohol Control Inspectors will prosecute smoking offenders without prior warning.

Under the laws of Hong Kong, any person bringing alternative smoking products, such as e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products into Hong Kong, commits an offence under the Import and Export Ordinance. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

The Tobacco Control Legislation (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 was gazetted and came into effect on September 19. The new phase of tobacco control measures will be implemented in stages. The legislation prohibiting the provision of alternative smoking products and conventional smoking products to persons aged below 18 has taken effect. Offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and six months’ imprisonment, and a fine of $25,000 respectively upon conviction.

Furthermore, effective January 1, 2026, statutory NSAs will be extended to within three metres of the entrances and exits of child care centres, schools, residential care homes, hospitals and specified clinics or health centres. Smoking will also be prohibited while queuing to board public transport carriers or queuing to enter specified places. The fixed penalty for illegal smoking will be raised from $1,500 to $3,000.

For the sake of the health of individuals, their families and others, the Government appeals to smokers to quit smoking as early as possible. Members of the public may call the DH’s Integrated Smoking Cessation Hotline on 1833 183, which is operated by registered nurses to provide professional counselling services on smoking cessation.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Two incoming male passengers were sentenced to four months’ and six months’ imprisonment respectively by the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts today (September 30) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, as well as for importing alternative smoking products, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO) and the Import and Export Ordinance (IEO). One of them was also fined $1,500.
 
Customs officers intercepted a 27-year-old incoming male passenger at Hong Kong International Airport on July 28. About 42 000 alternative smoking products, with an estimated market value of about $127,000, were seized from his personal baggage. The passenger was subsequently arrested. He was sentenced to four months’ imprisonment today in contravention of the IEO.
 
In addition, Customs officers intercepted a 35-year-old incoming male passenger at Hong Kong International Airport on August 4. About 10 000 duty-not-paid cigarettes and about 26 000 alternative smoking products, with an estimated market value of about $118,000 and a duty potential of about $33,000 in total, were seized from his personal baggage. The passenger was subsequently arrested. He was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment and fined $1,500 in contravention of the DCO, and was also sentenced to six months’ imprisonment in contravention of the IEO today. The sentences will run concurrently.
 
Customs welcomes the sentence. The custodial sentence has imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflects the seriousness of the offences.
 
Under the DCO, cigarettes are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who imports, deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
 
Under the IEO, any person who imports an alternative smoking product into Hong Kong commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
 
Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (September 30) released the seventh batch of gravidtrap indexes and density indexes for Aedes albopictus in September, covering 16 survey areas, as follows:
 

District	Survey Area	September 2025
		First Phase Gravidtrap Index	First Phase Density Index
Central and Western	Sheung Wan and Sai Ying Pun	1.8%	1.0
Wanchai	Happy Valley	0.0%	N/A
Mong Kok	Mong Kok	0.0%	N/A
North	Sheung Shui	8.5%	1.0
Tuen Mun	Tuen Mun North	0.0%	N/A
Kwai Tsing	Kwai Chung	3.6%	1.0

 

District	Survey Area	September 2025
		Area Gravidtrap Index	Area Density Index
Islands	Cheung Chau South	0.0%	N/A
	Cheung Chau North	1.6%	1.0
Sham Shui Po	Cheung Sha Wan	0.0%	N/A
	Sham Shui Po East	2.0%	1.0
Kowloon City	Kowloon City North	0.0%	N/A
Wong Tai Sin	Ngau Chi Wan	5.7%	1.0
Sai Kung	Tseung Kwan O East	2.0%	1.0
	Tseung Kwan O North	4.5%	1.0
Tuen Mun	So Kwun Wat	5.2%	1.0
Kwai Tsing	Tsing Yi South	1.8%	1.0

Among the seventh batch of First Phase Gravidtrap Indexes covering six survey areas and Area Gravidtrap Indexes covering 10 survey areas in September, all were below 10 per cent.

The FEHD has so far released seven batches of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in September 2025, covering 64 survey areas. Among these 64 survey areas, 56 recorded a decrease or remained unchanged in the individual gravidtrap index as compared to the Area Gravidtrap Index last month, i.e. August 2025, representing that the areas’ mosquito infestation had improved or maintained a low level. Eight other areas recorded a slight increase, but the indexes were lower than 10 per cent.

Public participation is crucial to the effective control of mosquito problems. The FEHD appeals to members of the public to continue to work together in strengthening personal mosquito control measures, including:

• tidy up their premises and check for any accumulation of water inside their premises;
• remove all unnecessary water collection and eliminate the sources;
• check household items (those placed in outdoor and open areas in particular), such as refuse containers, vases, air conditioner drip trays, and laundry racks to prevent stagnant water;
• change the water in flower vases and saucers of potted plants at least once every seven days;
• properly cover all containers that hold water to prevent mosquitoes from accessing the water; and
• properly dispose of articles that can contain water, such as empty lunch boxes and cans.

Starting in August this year, following the completion of the surveillance of individual survey areas, and once the latest gravidtrap index and the density index are available, the FEHD will disseminate the relevant information through press releases, its website, and social media. It aims to allow members of the public to quickly grasp the mosquito infestation situation and strengthen mosquito control efforts, thereby reducing the risk of chikungunya fever (CF) transmission.

Following the recommendations from the World Health Organization and taking into account the local situation in Hong Kong, the FEHD sets up gravidtraps in districts where mosquito-borne diseases have been recorded in the past, as well as in densely populated places such as housing estates, hospitals and schools to monitor the breeding and distribution of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, which can transmit CF and dengue fever. At present, the FEHD has set up gravidtraps in 64 survey areas of the community. During the two weeks of surveillance, the FEHD will collect the gravidtraps once a week. After the first week of surveillance, the FEHD will immediately examine the glue boards inside the retrieved gravidtraps for the presence of adult Aedine mosquitoes, to compile the Gravidtrap Index (First Phase) and Density Index (First Phase). At the end of the second week of surveillance, the FEHD will instantly check the glue boards for the presence of adult Aedine mosquitoes. Data from the two weeks’ surveillance will be combined to obtain the Area Gravidtrap Index and the Area Density Index. The gravidtrap and density indexes for Aedes albopictus in different survey areas as well as information on mosquito prevention and control measures are available on the department’s webpage (www.fehd.gov.hk/english/pestcontrol/dengue_fever/Dengue_Fever_Gravidtrap_Index_Update.html#).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

According to statistics published today (September 30) by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, total deposits with authorized institutions increased by 0.9 per cent in August 2025. Among the total, Hong Kong dollar deposits decreased by 2.1 per cent while foreign currency deposits increased by 3.3 per cent in August, mainly reflecting fund flows of corporates. In the year to end-August, total deposits and Hong Kong dollar deposits increased by 8.7 per cent and 2.6 per cent respectively. Renminbi deposits in Hong Kong increased by 3.2 per cent in August to RMB968.0 billion at the end of August, mainly reflecting fund flows of corporates. The total remittance of renminbi for cross-border trade settlement amounted to RMB996.9 billion in August, compared with RMB1,233.3 billion in July. It should be noted that changes in deposits are affected by a wide range of factors, such as interest rate movements and fund-raising activities. It is therefore more appropriate to observe the longer-term trends, and not to over-generalise fluctuations in a single month.

Total loans and advances decreased by 0.4 per cent in August, while increased by 1.0 per cent in the year to end-August. Among the total, loans for use in Hong Kong (including trade finance) and loans for use outside Hong Kong decreased by 0.1 per cent and 1.3 per cent respectively in August. The Hong Kong dollar loan-to-deposit ratio increased to 74.6 per cent at the end of August from 73.1 per cent at the end of July, as Hong Kong dollar deposits decreased at a faster pace than Hong Kong dollar loans.

Hong Kong dollar M2 and M3 both decreased by 1.9 per cent in August, while both increased by 4.0 per cent when compared to a year ago. The seasonally-adjusted Hong Kong dollar M1 decreased by 2.9 per cent in August, while increased by 16.1 per cent compared to a year ago, reflecting in part investment-related activities. Total M2 and total M3 both increased by 0.7 per cent in August. Compared to a year earlier, total M2 and total M3 both increased by 10.4 per cent.

As monthly monetary statistics are subject to volatilities due to a wide range of transient factors, such as seasonal funding demand as well as business and investment-related activities, caution is required when interpreting the statistics.